Renault has announced that it is currently testing nine prototypes of its new electric Renault 5 in final endurance tests. The powertrain, battery, and platform are already at series standard, and the vehicles are undergoing tests in various locations, including the technical centers in Paris and Normandy. Although the prototypes are currently being tested on ice and snow, they are actually bodies of the Renault Clio, a combustion engine vehicle based on the CMF-B platform. This is possible due to the relationship between the two platforms, with 70% of the components being identical. The production of the Renault 5 is expected to be 30% cheaper than the Zoe.
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The new CMF BEV platform offers “all the advantages of an electric platform,” according to Gilles Godinot, Chief Engineer for the new CMF BEV, despite being based on a combustion engine vehicle. The platform is designed to increase installation space for the battery, which increases the space inside the vehicle. It also allows for different wheelbases and track widths, enabling the development of different models with deviating dimensions. The battery housing is simple and cuboid-shaped, which reduces the number of components, making production simpler and reducing costs.
Renault has not yet revealed the battery’s size or range, nor whether the Renault 5 will be available with one or more battery options. However, Delphine De Andria, head of product development in the B-EV segment, stated that the goal is for the price to be below all main competitors, definitely below the Zoe. The cells will come from Envision AESC, which is building its own cell factory in Renault’s eMobility cluster ElectriCity in Douai. It is unlikely that the Renault 5 will receive an LFP battery.
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Jean-Sébastien Blazy, Vice President of Vehicle Performance, noted that fast charging is a focus topic for Renault, though the company has not released any information about the expected charging power for the Renault 5. While the prototypes still do not look like the concept car that was first shown, Renault plans to launch the electric Renault 5 in 2024.
